I wrote this a few years ago as my own answer to the traditional Cinderella story so many young girls adopt for their life’s road map. It’s a little feministic, but mostly silly. It’s also a bit long, so be forewarned.

Cinderella scoured away at the bathroom floor as she watched her sisters and stepmother follow the coachman out the front door.

“I wish I could go to the ball,” she said, “I know I could win Prince Charming’s heart and escape my overbearing, hateful family.”

“I don’t think you really wish that,” whispered a voice in the corner of the room.

The birds scare me,
They fly by and scream at me.
I don’t like the birds,
I wish they’d die.
But I can’t hurt the birds,
That would not be fair.
How I wish they’d go away,
They keep staring at me with those beady black eyes.
The birds think they rule me,
They would try to kill me if they got the chance.
Why do they hate me so,
I never did anything to them,
They keep staring with their expressionless eyes.
Just a flicker of light nothing more,
They rise they squawk.
They circle they chase,
They scare me.
I wished they’d go away,
Birds, leave me be!!!